Lord Benjamin III esq.Mar 24

Edit! A lot of people engaged with this and it's clear many are in the same/similar positions. I therefore thought it might be useful for me to share that Open University offer quite a few free online certified training courses - www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses

There is also a wealth of (free) training material (for learners and teachers) available from MIT at ocw.mit.edu and (free) certified online courses at openlearning.mit.edu/courses-programs/mitx-courses

Everything from HR and management to neurodivergence, aerodynamics and astrophysics, Python, genetics, diversity and inclusion, infosec, STEM, law, Black-centric courses, research methods, languages and education, Scottish Parliament, etc. 😊

If, like me, you've been actively seeking a job recently, you will likely be aware of the impact Ai has had on the job market. Virtually every other day is a msm news story about qualified and/or experienced people making hundreds of applications without getting anywhere.

Personally, although I've had a few interviews that didn't quite land (one I didn't really have enough experience, the others were pulled or lost funding), I've now applied for over 300 jobs over the past year. At this stage I'm quite philosophical about it and recognise it's not a reflection of my value.

Along with all the other current crises, there is now a looming employment and skills crisis. This is being framed as a benefits culture led by overdiagnosis of neurodivergence. Which makes me so very very cross it's difficult to put into words. I know that's not true. You know that's not true. *They* know that's not true. It's just a convenient demographic to throw under the bus to detract from the catastrophic damage being wrought by this new gold rush.

Urgh.

I've started typing this out a few times recently and always deleted. It's not something I feel very comfortable talking about. But I am really struggling with this and I figure that if I am there might be others. And I believe in visibility and not suffering in silence - been there and it was awful.

I know things will change at some point. And I know I've spoken to some of you separately irl about this (and thank you so much for your support), but just wanted to fire a beam out across Fedi to anyone else in this shitty situation. You are not alone. Always happy to chat offline if this is kicking your ass as much as it is mine! X

#jobs
#employment

Show threadReid 
@TheBreadmonkey > I've now applied for over 300 jobs over the past year

meanwhile I'm at over 360 in a bit over 5 months and still haven't had a single interview  

> overdiagnosis of neurodivergence

I'm without a doubt some sort of neurodivergent but was never diagnosed, and I know I'm not alone. Overdiagnosis my foot.
Mar 24 at 3:49pmWeb
Show threadquixoteMar 25
@reiddragon @TheBreadmonkey I can't help thinking that if I wasn't neurodivergent before dealing with all that, I probably would be afterward!
Show threadReid Mar 25
@quixote @TheBreadmonkey I don't think a shitty jobhunt can give you autism
Show threadquixoteMar 25
@reiddragon @TheBreadmonkey No. But, trying to be funny aside, I know from personal experience that it can give you stress-induced attention-deficit and loss of executive function. Yes, sure, it's different when the brain chemistry changes are induced and not genetic. But even among diagnosed ADHD people, environmental causes can be a big a factor. It's not an either-or.
Show threadReid Mar 25
@quixote @TheBreadmonkey Well, in my initial post about being neurospicy I was mostly talking about having some sort of autism... but yeah, stress-induced executive dysfunction sounds about right.